INTEODUCTION. 
7 
first time, the terrapin or galapago. . . . We bought them at the rate of six shillings 
apiece. They were 2 feet 2 inches in length, 1 foot 10 inches broad, standing 1 foot 
2 inches off the ground." No specimens were brought home by this expedition. 
In the year 1875 the writer of this work directed the attention of Rear- Admiral the 
Hon. A. A, Cochrane, then Commander-in-Chief on the Pacific Station, to our im- 
perfect knowledge of the present condition of the indigenous fauna of these islands, and 
especially to the importance of making new and reliable observations on the Tortoises 
of the various localities. Rear- Admiral Cochrane instructed Commander Cookson, who 
was then proceeding in H.M.S. ' Peterel ' to the archipelago, to obtain, if possible, the 
desired information and specimens. In this Commander Cookson was most successful, 
obtaining, besides a series of examples from two of the islands, the following informa- 
tion, which is abstracted from his report to Rear-Admiral Cochrane : — 
" These Tortoises are extinct in Charles Island ; and only a very few individuals are 
supposed to survive on Chatham Island. In Hood, James, and Indefatigable Islands 
the numbers are so reduced that they are no longer hunted, the few left being in the 
most inaccessible parts of the islands ; and I was assured that a search of a fortnight 
might not result in finding a single individual on either of these islands. Albemarle 
and Abingdon are the only remaining islands in which they have ever been found. In 
parts of Albemarle Island they are still very abuildant, especially at the south-east end. 
" They are still tolerably numerous near Tagus Cove. Landing a party of twenty- 
four men about half a mile south-east of Tagus Cove, we found in a few hours thirty 
tortoises; the three largest weighed respectively 241 lb., 185 lb., and 173 lb.; these, 
I was told, were as large as they are commonly found now. 
" Tagus Cove is a favourite resort of Avhalers for the purpose of getting tortoises. The 
anchorage is perfectly secure ; and the custom is for almost the entire crew to be landed 
until as many tortoises are secured as can be conveniently taken on board, some 
whalers going to sea with as many as 100. 
" We found a good trail leading from the landing-place (at one of the gullies before 
mentioned as having pools of fresh water at its mouth) to the ground where tortoises 
are found, a distance of about three miles ; quantities of tortoise-shells and traces of 
fires showed the numerous camping-grounds. 
" Tortoises were never, I believe, very abundant on Abingdon Island : our searching 
party found four on this island. They were on the high ground; and it was a work of 
great labour getting them down to the boats. The distance was about four miles ; but 
the ground was exceedingly rugged, and covered with thick brush, through which a 
trail had to be cut for the entire distance. The largest found on this island weighed 
201 lb., and the smallest 135 lb. 
" In consequence of the extent of Albemarle Island, and the inaccessibility of many 
parts of it, I have no doubt these animals are still very numerous on it, and likely to 
be so for a long period, even at the present rate at which they are destroyed ; but I have 
